A Note to the Spelling and Grammar Purists

[swthiel]

The Trumpet Herald experiences occasional bouts of grammar correction, spelling correction, and objections to Netspeak. Different people have chosen to do this at different times, so my comments here are meant to be general and not directed to any particular member of our community. I have participated in such behavior myself.

In my current job, my professional success is contingent upon the quality of my ideas, the quality of my graduate students’ ideas, and the clarity and effectiveness with which those ideas are expressed in written form; writing and editing are key elements of my job. It is from this viewpoint that I have a simple request for those who choose to use open forum posts on the Trumpet Herald to correct the grammar and spelling of others.

Please stop.

I have several reasons for making this request.

First, such corrections are rarely on-topic, especially in the context of a trumpet forum. Spelling and grammar corrections and comments are interruptions of an ongoing dialogue.

Second, public correction of someone else’s spelling or grammar is impolite behavior, at least according to the norms that prevailed during my upbringing. The subtext of such a suggestion is often that the person offering the correction is not interested in the content of the communication, only the form. In addition, public corrections have the potential to subject the person being corrected to public embarrassment. I suggest that if you absolutely must correct someone, a Private Message is a more appropriate way to offer that correction.

Third, if you choose to post a public correction, please be certain that your correction is properly written. By “properly written,” I mean that your correction uses correct grammar, standard spellings, standard punctuation, clear antecedents to pronouns, and so forth. If you are objecting to Netspeak, your post should not include emoticons (smilies), since emoticons are part of Netspeak. From time to time I amuse myself by completing a thorough editorial review of posts intended to correct the grammar in another post; the last time I did this, I found about ten corrections per post. I’ve chosen not to post these corrections for the reasons outlined above.

Fourth, whether you like it or not, Netspeak will be with us for a while. It is not, as has been suggested in another thread, part of the “’dumbing-down’ of America.” Rather, it is a shorthand technique that facilitates real-time discussions in a text-only environment; since the Trumpet Herald is an Internet forum, it is not surprising that we see some Netspeak. It is my experience that relatively little Netspeak creeps in to students’ writing at the college level. My students, at both the undergraduate and graduate level, use complete sentences, proper capitalization, and standard spellings in the writing they do for me. My experience indicates that the kids have no difficulty identifying situations in which a more standard writing style is required.

Thank you for reading and considering these comments.

Steve Thiel, PhD, PE
Research Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering
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Steve Thiel

[LittleRusty]

I personally don't consider emoticons netspeak.

And I think they can add visual cues that are missing from written communications. As such, I would like to see them used.

[tom turner]

Hi,

It sounds like your are talking about "Grammarians," just one of lots of specific forum-poster types described with words and drawings on the "Flame Warriors" site.

Here's a description and caricature of "Grammarian:"

[Robert Rowe]

In a word, Thiel ... NO. (I will not stop).

Deal with it.

Yogi Robt
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~ Love animals ... don't eat them. ~

I miss Genghis Khan ....

[Dale Proctor]

I always try to write in clear sentences, using correct grammar, without spelling errors. Occasionally a typo will get by, or I'll use slang, but I don't make a habit of using poor English. I sometimes step outside the accepted writing format, but this is a computer forum, not school. I have never corrected another poster's online grammar or spelling, because I feel it's rude. I do think, however, that the emoticons serve a useful purpose, as a substitute for voice inflections and facial expressions.

As an aside, don't you all hate it when people add ' before the "s" to form a plural?
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"Brass bands are all very well in their place - outdoors and several miles away ." - Sir Thomas Beecham

[Robert Rowe]

[Tom LeCompte]

Steve-

I read your post, and stand somewhat chastised, but nonetheless, think there is a distinction that needs to be drawn between a mistake and an attitude. We all make mistakes - or at least I do - and I would agree that it's rude to correct them.

However, some of our younger members also have stated that it's okay for them to use unorthodox spelling, diction, punctuation and grammar because the readers can eventually figure out what was meant. Some have even said they are deliberately writing that way. I was taught that the reason we strive to write correctly is because it shows respect for our audiences. The extra minute I didn't spend means hundreds of readers have to spend that minute themselves, and my time is not hundreds of times more valuable than my readers' time.

I also think it's not entirely off-topic. There is very little difference between "the audience should be able to figure out what I meant, even though I misspelled words and didn't use punctuation" and "the audience should be able to figure out what I meant even though I played E's instead of F's and didn't follow the tempo markings or dynamics".

Tom

[Robert Rowe]

[lmf]

Hi,

Oh, to be perfect!

It is clear from my own use of grammar that this will not happen!

Some of us lack the higher education that many of you have. We may to share things on TH, but we realize we don't make the grade.

As they say: "You can't make a purse from a sow's ear!"

Best wishes!

Lloyd

[richardwy]

Proper English is easier to read than idiosyncratic gobbly-gook.

My "oh no" meter doesn't go off if it's apparent someone is trying to make things easy on their audience.

I used to teach college English. Oh the stories I could tell.

I love the site that hosts the bit Tom Turner posted. I fear I might be that very fellow from time to time.

It depends on how you were brung up.

[Robert Rowe]

[lmf]

Hi, Robert,

I keep contributing though I realize no one can "polish" it.

Best wishes!

Lloyd

[goldenboy3]

one of my teacher says the turd line all the time... i thought he made it up

[Robert Rowe]

[goldenboy3]

[LittleRusty]

I wonder what a "main keyboard" is?

[TrpPro]

(moved to another thread)

[Robert Rowe]

[LittleRusty]

Ah, then to be correct you should have said the main portion of the keyboard.

My keyboard is nothing like you describe, indeed many laptop keyboards aren't.

However, my secondary keyboard is like the one you describe.

[Robert Rowe]